Ampul-filling device



June 24, 1930. H. $!CKEL AMPUL FILLING DEVICE Filed Nov, 15, 1923 3 Shuts-Sheet 1 June 24, 1930. H. SICKEL mm. FILLING DEVICE- Filed ndv; '15, 1923 3 Shoots-Sheet 2 June 24, 1930. .l-L SICKEL "1,767,902

AMPUL FILLING DEVICE Filed Nov. 15. 192; :5 Shts-Sheet s Fig. 7.

' Patented June 24, 1930 PATENT OFFICE HELMUT S'ICKEL, or tE PzIG, GERMANY AMPUL-FILLING DEVICE Application filed November 15, 1923. Serial No. 674,937.

My invention refers to the automatic filling of ampules and the like and its particular object is an automatic device which permits filling and sealing ampules designed to hold preparations for the use of the medical practitioner, the filling and sealing being effected in a purely mechanical way and in a very short time whereby not only manual labor is dispensed with, but also a perfect scaling is obtained so that the stability and purity ofthe contents of the ampules is warranted.

The new device according to this invention substantially consists of a plurality of carriers connected withfoneanother and subject to a positive motion which causes the ampules to travel from the point on which they are supplied to the carrier to an inlet tube through which a measured quantity of the substance, suchas a liquid, passes into the ampul stationed below the inlet tube,

whereupon the'filled ampul is conveyed to a sealing device and from there to the point of delivery. Preferably, means are provided which ampules, the necks of which are still closed, have the closed end of their necks severed by mechanical means before 'bein filled. Provision is further made for melting the, neck of the filled ampules by means of a narrow flame to the action of which the ampul is subject'while its carrier is in motion, the ampul being during this time caused to rotate about its longitudinal The ampules are supplied to the carriers and withdrawn therefrom by auto axis.

matic means.

In the drawings afflixed to this specifica-' tion and forming part thereof a device em-.

bodying my invention, is illustrated diagrammatically by way of example. In the drawings Figure 1.is a front elevation and Figure 2 a side elevation with the upper portion broken away, while Figure d3is a plan view corresponding to Fi Figure 4 illustrates a number'of details including the burner for melting'the necks. Fig. 5 is a'detail illustration on a larger scale showing a modification,

,Slide 3 is displaced from the position shown their axes and to be displaced axially. Through each'sleeve extends a spindle 12 Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5,

Fig. 7 is a plan view ofa device for locking the shaft about which the ampules are rotating,

Figs.- 8 and 9 are a front elevation and an end elevation, respectively, of a device for modifyingthe quantity of liquid charged into the ampules.

Referring to the drawings, 1 is a magazine filled with empty ampules and. having a sloping bottom. Below a slot 2 in the bottom a slide 3 is arranged which is provided with a cavity 4 adapted to hold an ampul.

in Figure 1 insuch manner that an ampul is caused to enter the cavity 4, whereuponit is moved back so that the ampul is placed in front of the opening of a funnel 5 into which it will glide, coming to rest on the 0 stationary bottom 6 of the funnel.

In the lower part of the device are disposed two discs 8 forming a support capable of'rotation about a vertical shaft 53 and. having the ampul carriers 9 mounted thereon. These carriers have the form of tubes or sleeves standing upright 6n the support 8.

The discs 8 forming the support and carrying the sleeves 9 are rotated intermittent- 1y, so as to come to a stop three times dur-- ing each rotation. After an ampul has been supplied to the sleeve 9 which happens to be nearest to the bottom 6 of funnel 5, it will be carried by the rotating discs 8 to" the filling device comprising the inlet'tube 10. After having been filled atthis point, the further rotation of discs '8Jwill carry the. filled ampul to the sealing, device formed by a burner '11. After having been sealed by melting, the ampul iscarriedback to its initial position inorder to be lifted fromthe sleeve and delivered into a magazine:-

The sleeves 9 are arrangedto'rotate about having arranged at its upper end a little plate 13', while'on the lower end 'of the spindle, which extends through an opemng 1n the disc 8, a friction wheel 14 is-fi'xed. The

' tainer 21. and with push the spindle 12 can be displaced longitudinally with regard to sleeve 9 and carries a catch 15 as shown in .Figs. 5 and 6 which in the lowermost position of the spindle abuts against a pin 93 located near the bottom of the sleeve whereby, on the spindle bein caused to rotate,-the sleeve will be carried along in its rotation.

In the position shown on the right hand side of Fig. 1 the spindle 12 has been lifted by an arm 16 of a vertically reciprocable slide 17 so that the filled ampul on the plate 13 is completely free of the sleeve below it. In this position of the spindle 12, the funnel 5 is dis laced in such manner that it will lled ampul into an open magazine 18 containing 'a number of filled ampules which are stored in this magazine in order to cool down after their necks have been molten. The ampul at the right hand end of magazine 18 is thereby displaced so as to enter a channel 19 which carries it' to a point where it can be removed by hand or to a mechanical packing device.

The fimnel 5 has aslot 7 through which that portion of the empty ampul which projects beyond the upper edge of sleeve 9 will pass 'on the ampul being carried towards the filling device. On passingtowards this device, the closed neck portion of the ampul 1s caused to pass between two cuttlng edges formed by prisms 66 and 67 which are fixed to resilient holders 68 and 69 and which scratch or out the neck in such manner that, asthe neck portion abuts against the arm 70, it will break ofi. I may, however, also provide a member resembling a hammer which throws the severed portion aside. Such a device is shown at the left of Fig. 5 where one of the sleeves 9 is shown in .the position .it will assume shortly after leaving' the cutting prisms 66 and 67. -Instead of the arm as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, a hammer 87 is provided. A spring 88 tends to hold the opposite end, of this hammer which is fulcrumed in a frame stay 1 83, against-a cam disc 89 on a shaft 49 to which rotation is imparted from the drive of the machine by means which will be described below. When .the ampul is opposite the hammer 87, the end of the hammer enters a recess 90 of the cam disc 89'and the hammer knocks off the neck of the ampul. Preferably, arail 92 is arranged opposite the hammer to prevent yielding of the neck under the blow. I

The fine needle-like filling tube 10 is attached to a tube 20 the upper end of which is connected with a threewaycock 23 which is also connected with a pump 22 and a container 21, thereby permitting the pump 22 to alternately communicate with the conthe filling tube 10, respectively.

For the purpose of filling. an ampul, the

heat of such gases is utilized for sterilizing carrier sleeve 9 positioned underneath the tube 10 is lifted together with its spindle 12, this being effected by an arm 25 of slide 17 and by an arm 26 which acts on the ring 27 located. at the lower end of the sleeve. The lifted ampul is introduced from below into? a small bell -mouthed tube 24 arranged for free vertical movement on the tube 10 and suspended therefrom by chains 80 or the like, the ampul carrying the bellmouthed tube along in its vertical movement and being centered by it relatively to the tube 10 so that the neck portion of the ampul will surround the filling tube.

The lever 28 serving for turnin the threewaycock 23 is connected with t e slide 17 by a rod 29 and, on the slide being lifted, the cock will be turned into a position in which it connects the pump 22 withthe filling tube 10. The piston of pump 22 being moved by a lever 31 operated by a rod 30 the pump, and after the cock has been turned into the position where the pump communicates with tube 10, the contents of the pump cylinder are forced into the ampul. The stroke of the pump piston and, in consequence thereof,the quantity of liquid introduced into the ampules can be regulated by displacing the rod 30 with regard to lever 31. To this end, the'lever 31 is made with a slotted eye 31 as shown in Fig. 8. A pin 95 provided with a disc 94 at one end, and a thread 96 at the other, is inserted in an eye at the end of the'rod 30 and held in/the slotted eye of the lever 31 by a thumb nut 97 so that the effective length of the lever ma be varied.

s the disc 8 continues its rotation, the neck of the filled ampul will be carried towards the narrow flame emerging from the burner 11 (Figures 2 and 4). When the ampul is in front of the burner, the friction wheel 14 on spindle 12 will come inoperative contact with a continually revolving friction wheel 71' whereby the spindle 12 the lower'end of which is incommunication with a flue 36 supplied from below with the hot gases rising from the burner 11. The

the liquid in the'vessel 34. a

The liquid to be filled into the ampules is introduced into the vessel 34 which carries a funnel 38, an air filter tube 39 and a thermometer 40. When the liquid in the vessel '34 has been sterilized by the hot gases from the' flue'36.the flap 81 which is hinged at 82, is turned over into the position 81 which-connects the flue 36 with a chimney 37 opening into the atmosphere and -by-' passes the gases from the chamber 35 and the liquidin the vessel 34 is allowed to cool. The rate of cooling may be increased by blowing cold air past the container,.or any other expedient. The sterilized and. cooled 62 and 63 abutting against the parts 64 and 65, respectively, connected withthe funnel.

With the support 63 of slide 3 the connectmg rod 30 is connected so that the movement of slide 3 also sets the pump 22 operation. I

, The crank arm 58 is connected by the rod- 76 with a rod 72 capable of movin 'in 'des formed by extensions 73 fixed to t e shde 17 m liquid is allowed to pass into the container and embracing the standard 74 which serves 21 by opening the cock 33, an air filter tube 41 mounted on the container 21 securing its contents against contamination.- Therefore the container 21"is always filled without it'being necessary to replace it. The advantage of directly connecting the vessel 34 in which the liquidis sterilizedwith the container 21 resides in the facts that it is possible to suppl liquid to the tank 21 without danger of pollution, and that it is not necessary -to remove the container 21 and the char ing apparatus from the device for sterilization so that the device may be' operated continuously. Nor is it necessary to remove the said parts when the liquid is exchanged.

The vessel 34, the container 21 and the pipe lines are cleaned by forcing sterilized water or steam through them, with consideration of this method of cleaning, sharp bends should be avoided.

All the moving parts comprised in the device are driven byan electromotor 42 whose shaft 43 acts by means of aworm 44 on a worm gear 45 mounted on a shaft 46,'the means rotation of which is transmitted .by of a worm 47 and worm wheel 48 to a shaft 49 whichserves for moving the disc 8, slide I 3, funnel 5, pump 22 and slide 17.

On shaft 49 is mounted-a disc 50 carrying on its circumference three teeth 51 which during. each revolution of shaft 49 gear with the toothed wheel 52 come into fixed on shaft 53 of disc 8 and impart to disc 8 an intermittent rotation.

, In order to brin shaft 53 to a stop at the stations where t e ampules are supplied and delivered, filled and sealed, a ratchet disc 54'is1fixed to this shaft as will best be seen in Figs. 5 and 7, this disc having notches 86, into which a ratchet lever 55 fulcrumed at 85 projects. A lug-56 is fixed. to lever 55'and a cam disc57 presses on this lug when the shaft 53 is to be released for rotation, thereby causing lever 55 to release ratchet disc 54. 84 isa pull-back springsecured to-the lug 56 at one end.

Shaft 49 carries a crank arm 58 which'is 7 .connected b means of rod 59 with'a cross head 60 sli 'ng on a rail 61 and serving,

- whe abutting a ainst the supports 62 and,

Y 63 o slide 3-, to 's'place'the slide 3 so as to supply ampules from the magazine 1 to the funnel 5. During this movement of slide 3 funnel'5 is earned along by the supports asa guide for the slide17, the extensions 73 gli i ng'on the standard with so much friction that their downward movement is prevented. ,Rod 72 carries a catch 75 which,

on meeting the extensions 73, displaces the slide 17 The worm 44 mounted on shaft 43 further drives the worm wheel 77 n shaft 78 which device can also be arranged for simul taneously filling and sealing a plurality of ampules.-

I wish it to be understood that I do; not desire to be limited to the exact detailsof construction shown and described, for ohwill occur to a person vious modifications skilled in the art. I claim 1. Filling device for ampules and the like comprising a supgiort rotatable about a vertical axis, means or intermittently rotating said support, a plurality of ampul carriers arranged on-said suport, .an inlet tube above said support for Him said ampules, avertically movably spin le in said- I.

support below said tube and means on-said support for lifting sald spindle towards said tube. I

2. Filling device for ampules and the like, comprising a sup ort rotatable about a vertical axis, means or intermittently rotating said support, a plurality ofampul carriers arranged on said support, an inlet tube above said support for llin said ampules, a spindle vertically movab e in-each carrier'to sup rt an ampul, and means for lifting the spindle-in the carrier nearest to said tube so as to'cause said tube to enter the ampul resting onsaid spindle.

3. Filling devlce 1 fonampules and the like, comprising a supportrotatable about a vertical axis, means for intermittently rotating said support, a lurality of ampul carriers aid'angedon sai su rt} an inlet tube above said support for 'n said ampules, a spindle vertically movab e in each carrier to support an ampul, means for lifting the spindle in the carrier nearest to said tube so as to cause said tube to enter comprising a support rotatable, about a vertical axis, means for intermittently rotating said support, a plurality of ampul carriers arranged on said support, an inlet tube above said support for filling said ampules,

a spindle vertically movable in each carrier to support an ampul, means for lifting the spindle in the carrier nearest to said tube so as to cause said tube to enter the ampul resting on said spindle, and means comprising a pump and a three-way cock for simultaneously supplying liquid forsaid tube.

5. Filling device for ampules and'the like comprising a liquid container, a source of heat for softening the ampul necks and means for guiding the heat from said source to said liquid container for sterilizing the liquid contained therein. V

6. Filling device for ampules and the like comprising means for causing a plurality of ampules to travel around a common. centre, means for introducing a predetermined quantity of liquid into said ampules, means in the way of said ampules for making an incisionin the necks of said ampules and separate means for severing the necks, after the incision has been made.

7. Filling device for. ampules and the like comprising means for causing a plurality of ampules to travel around a common centre, means for introducing a predetermined quantity of liquid into said ampules, means in the way of said ampules comprising a pair of cutters resiliently mounted for makmg an incision 'in the necks of said ampules and separate means for severing the necks, after the incision has been made.

8. Filling device for ampules and the like comprising a plurality of ampul carriers each adapted to receive an ampul and con- "nected with each other, an inlet tube for filling the ampules, mechanism for imparting positive movement to said carriers, means for supplying each of said carriers with an empty ampul, means for severing the necks of said ampules, means for supplying a predetermined quantity of the substance with which the ampules are to be filled, through said inlet tube into the ampul which is in alignment with said inlet tube at the time, and means for sealing said filled ampules, all said means being operatively connected with said mechanism.

9. Filling'device for'ampules and the like comprising a support, mechanism for imparting to said support intermittent rotation about a vertical axis, a plurality of tubular ampul carriers on said support, a

greases spindle extending through each of said carriers, an inlet tube for filling the ampules, means for rotating said tubular carriers about their vertical axis, means for raising each carried independently of the other carriers, means for displacing said spindles longitudinally with respect to their carriers, means for connecting each spindle with said support in the lower final position of said spindle, means for supplying each of said carriers with an empty ampul, means for severing the necks of said ampules, means for supplying a predetermined quantity of the substance with which the ampules are to be\filled, through said inlet tube into the ampul which is in alignment with said inlet tube at the time, and means for sealing said filled ampules, all said means being operatively connected with said mechanism.

10. Filling device for ampules and the like comprising a plurality of ampul car-' riers each adapted to receive an ampul and connected with each other, an inlet tube for filling the ampules, mechanism for imparting positive movement to said carriers, a bell-mouthed tube arranged on said inlet tube above said carriers, means for supplying each of said carriers. with an empty ampul, means for severing the necks of said ampules, means for supplying a predetermined quantity of the substance with which the ampules are to be filled, through said inlet tube into the ampul which is in alignment withsaid inlet tube at the time, and

means for sealing said filled ampules, all said means being operatively connected with said 'mechanism. J

11. Filling device for ampules and the like comprising a support, mechanism for imparting to said support intermittent rotation above a vertical axis, a "plurality of tubular ampul carriers on said support, a spindle extending through each of said carriers, an inlet tube for filling the'ampules, means for rotating said tubular carriers about their vertical axis, means for raising each carrier independently of the other carriers, means for displacing said spindles longitudinally withrespect to their carriers,

a bell-mouthed tube arranged on said inlet tube above said carriers, means for supplying each of said carriers with an empty ampul, means for severing the necks of said ampules, means for supplying a predetermined quantity of the substance with which the am ules are to be filled, through said inlet tu einto the ampul which is in alignment with said inlet tube at the time, and means for sealing said filled ampules, all said means being operativly connected with said mechanism. 1

12. Filling device for ampules and the like comprising a support, mechanism for imparting to said support intermittent rotation about a vertical axis, a plurality of tubular ampul carriers on said support, a spindle extending through each of said carriers, an inlet tube for filling the ampules, means for rotating said tubular carriers about their vertical axis, means for raising each carrier independently of the other carriers, means for displacing said spindles longitudinally with respect to their carriers, a bell-mouthed tube arranged on said inlet tube above'said carriers, a slide adapted to place an empty ampul on the top of each spindle when it is in its highest position, means for severing the necks of said ampules, means for suppl ing a predetermined quantity of the su stance with whichthe ampules are to be filled, through said inlet tube into theampul which is in alignment with said inlet tube at the time, and means for sealing said filled ampules, all said means being operatively connected with said mechanism.

13. Filling device for ampules and the like comprising a plurality of ampul carriers each adapted to receive an ampul and connected with each other, and inlet tube for filling the ampules, mechanism for imparting positive movement to said carriers, a

' bell-mouthed tube arranged on said inlet tubeabove said carriers adapted to slide freely on said inlet tube, meansfor supplying each of said carriers with an empt ampul, means for severing the necks of said ampules, means for supplying a predetermined quantity of the substance with which the ampules are to be filled, through said inlet tube into the ampul which is in alignment with said inlet tube at the time, and means for sealing said filled ampules, all said means being operatively connected with said mechanism.

14. Filling device for ampules and the like comprising a plurality of ampul carriers each adapted to receive an ampul and connected with each other, an inlet tube for filling the ampules, mechanism for imparting positive movement to said carriers,

means for supplying each of said carriers with an empty ampul, means for severing the necks of said ampules, means for 'supplying a predetermined quantity of the substance with which the ampules are to be filled, through said inlet tube into the ampul which is in alignment with said inlet tube at'the time, a liquid container arranged above and connected with said inlet tube, a

supply vessel arranged above and connected 55 for filling said ampules,a verticall' movable spindle in said support below said tube,

means on said support for lifting said spindle toward said tube,- means on said frame for cutting and breaking the necks of said ampules. before filling said ampules, and heating means on said frame for sealing the necks after said ampules have been filled.

16. Filling device for ampules and the like comprising a frame, a support rotatable about avertical axis on said frame, means for intermittently rotating said support, a plurality of ampul carriers arranged on said support, an inlet tube above said support for filling said ampules, a vertically movable spindle in said support below said tube, means on said support for lifting said spindle toward said tube, means on said frame for cutting and breaking the necks of said ampules before filling said ampules, heating means on said frame for sealing the necks after said ampules have been filled, and means on said frame for ejecting the filled and sealed ampules. I

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HELMUT SICKEL.

with said container, all said means being operatively connected with said mechanism, a

frame on which said means are carried,

means on said frame for melting the open ends of the filled ampules, and a flue on said frame adapted to conduct the hotgases. from said melting means to said supply vessel.

15. Filling device for ampules and the like comprising a frame, a support rotatable about a Vertical axis on said frame, means for intermittently rotating said support, a 

